Former Pomona resident and terrorism suspect Sohiel Omar Kabir is appearing this morning in federal court in Riverside for a detention hearing, where a federal magistrate has denied a defense request for Kabir to be released from custody on bond.

Magistrate Oswald Parada declined to grant bond for Kabir, saying there is clear and convincing evidence that he poses a flight risk and is a danger to the community.

Defense lawyer Jeffrey Aaron had sought Kabir's release on bond, saying he could receive home detention and electronic monitoring.

Kabir was ordered to return to court Dec. 19 for a post-indictment arraignment.

Aaron said he received 1,500 pages of discovery Monday, but he was not made aware of the audio and video evidence. Kabir's hearing took a brief break this morning so defense attorneys could review video and audio evidence.

Aaron said an FBI informant, who was paid about $250,000 by the federal government, is a convicted drug trafficker and an illegal immigrant.

Federal prosecutors say Kabir, a naturalized American citizen, masterminded a plot to murder Americans abroad and to aid terrorist organizations. They have charged Kabir and three other local men in federal court.

All four defendants have pleaded not guilty.

While the other three suspects were arrested in Chino, Kabir was apprehended in Kabul, Afghanistan on Nov. 17, and he was returned to California earlier this month.

Aaron has questioned authorities' handling of Kabir during his capture in Afghanistan and his two weeks with the U.S. military before being turned over to the FBI. When Kabir arrived in California, he had a broken bone in his face, cuts on his head and was suffering from memory loss, according to his attorney.